Delhi home minister Satyendar Jain on Sunday directed heads of departments (HoDs) under his ministry to start work on projects without waiting for LG’s nod.

Jain directed HoDs of his departments to take decision on ‘shadow or part’ files even as the original files are submitted to the LG office saying that various important projects are being “derailed” as original files are lying with the LG office for approval.

In his order to heads of his departments, Jain, who has charge of key departments, Health, Power, PWD, Industries, Transport, Urban Development and Home, said there should be “no delay” in executing the ongoing projects and works due to lack of decision on the “pretext” that concerned files are submitted to the Lt Governor office.

Last month, LG Najeeb Jung had ordered all HoDs to send those files where his prior approval was required, but not taken by the Kejriwal government following HC order which ruled that the Lt Governor was the “administrative” head of the national capital.

Subsequently, Jung had constituted a three-member panel to examine around 400 files containing “infirmities and irregularities” in taking decisions by the AAP government. In the order, the minister said it is noticed that the decision making process in respect of many important issues pertaining to his departments has come to “virtual halt” in the recent days on the pretext that original files related to the subject is under submission to LG office for ex-post facto approval/information of decisions taken earlier.

“As such a practice is derailing the implementation/ commissioning of important works/projects and is detrimental to the public interest. It is hereby directed that the concerned HoDs shall ensure that the ongoing projects/works are not delayed for lack of decision on such pretext (due to files submitted to LG office) and that appropriate action be initiated on the shadow files/part files, as the case may be, for appropriate action,” Jain said.

He, however, asked officers not to take decision in respect of such cases where there is specific direction from the LG office that the ongoing work is to be stopped with immediate effect.

Shadow files are the copies of original and related part files. The LG is having a long-running battle with the AAP government on a range of issues when the party came to power for the second time in February 2015.